Dynamo-electric machine.



H. H. RALSTON.

.1905. 1,078,877. PatentedNGv. 18, 1913.

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H. H. RALSTO'N.

DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINE.

APPLICATION rILBD MAR.1,1905.

1,078,877. Patented N0v.18,1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. EALsreN, or NoEWooD, omo, As'sIGNoR To r'rHE BULLoCx ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, `A CoRPoaATreN or oHIo.

DYNAMOELECTEC MACHINE.

T o all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HOWARD H. RALs'mN, citizen of the Un1ted States, residing at Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dynamo-Electric Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dynamo electric machines.

ln the construction and operation of large dynamo electric machines, especially large direct current generators in which the arinature coils are designed to lie at a considerable radial distance from the surface of the commutator segments, great difficulty has been experienced in properly spacing and insulatingr the long open leads necessary to connect. the armature coils and commutator segments, without interfering with the proper ventilation of the armature and leads, and without undue complication.

.The object of my invention is to space and support the commutator leads in a simple, neatand inexpensive manner without affect-ing the proper Ventilating of the machine.

In one of its aspects my invention comprises a commutator lead having a spacing member of insulating material mounted thereon.

In another aspect the invention comprises the combination in a dynamo electric machine of a plurality of commutator leads and spacing blocks of insulating material between said leads intermediate their ends.

The invention will be more clearly understood by an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represent-s the end elevation of suflicient of a dynamo electric machine to illustrate the application of one of the modified forms of my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are side and end views respectively of the leads, illustrating more clearly the method of mounting my preferred form of spacing block; Figs. 4 and 5 are end view\ and side view (partly in section) respectively of the preferred form of spacing block; Fi 6 and 7 are side and end elevations of eads equipped with a modified form of spacing members; Fi 8 and 9 are similar views of another modlcation; and Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views of a still further modifica- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led March 1, 1905.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Serial No. 247,906.

tion, Fig. 11 showing one of the spacing elements in partial section.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, a few of the commutator segments of a dynamo electric machine are illustrated at 12, the ends of the armature coils are shown at 13 and the open or ventilated leads connecting the commutator segments with the armature coils are shown at 14. In large direct current generators and similar machines, the leads 14 sometimes reach a length of two or three feet, and on account of their flexibility they are diflicult to maintain in their proper positions. To avoid damage and danger due to grounds and short circuits and to improve the eneral appearance of the machine, I provi e spacing members, or spacing blocks between the commutator leads, intermediate their ends. These spacing members are preferably mounted on alternate leads so as to project on opposite sides thereof and rest against adjacent leads. The spacing blocks are also preferably located in a circle or circles concentric with the commutator. (lne or more circles of these spacing blocks may be employed dependent upon the length of the leads and the rigidity required. The preferred modification of spacing member consists of a stud 15, preferably of insulating material such'as pressed liber, Vulcabeston, etc., which passes throughan opening 16 in the lead 1.4, and projects from opposite sides of said lead, and insulating spacing blocks or washers 17 mounted on the projecting ends of the stud at opposite ends thereof and on opposite sides of the lead carrying the spacing member. The washers 17 are preferabl held on the stud 15 by expanding the en s of said stud at 18, that is to say, the spacing blocks 17 are preferably riveted on the leads 14. By employing a circle of spacing blocks near the armature coil ends 13, I obviate the necessit of using wooden wedges which are or inarily employed between said armature coil ends to maintain them at a predetermined distance apart. In this connection my improved construction reduces the cost of the assembled armature. since the wooden wedges are expensive and diicult to assemble properly.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a metallic rivet 19 is em loyed to fasten the cup-shaped spacing bloc 20 to alternate leads 14 and the disks 21 are placed within the blocls 20 to cover the ends of rivet 19. The blocks 20 and disks 21 are made of insulating material.

In Fics. 8 and 9 I have illustrated spacing members made of strips 22 of insulating material which are fastened by means of rivets 23 or in any other manner to the leads 14, and are so bent, as shown in Fig. 9, as to rest against the adjacent lead.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1() and 11, I employ two wedge shaped blocks 24 of insulating material. These blocks 24 are forced into a rectangular opening 25 in the lead from opposite sides of said lead and are. held in position in said opening by the adjacent leads, and in turn maintain said leads at a predetermined distance apart.

Other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, a plurality of commutator leads, having spacing members of insulating material between them, each of said spacing members comprising a portion projecting through alternate leads and portions projecting from opposite sides thereof.

2. A dynamo electric machine having leads connecting the commutator segments and the armature coils, certain of said leads having openings therethrough, supporting studs in the openings in said leads, and spacing blocks of insulating material on said studs.

3. As an article of manufacture, a commutator lead having an opening therethrough, a supporting stud in the opening, and a spacing member on said stud.

4. As an article of manufacture, a commutator lead having an opening therethrough, a supporting stud in said opening and projecting from opposite sides of said lead, and spacing blocks on the projecting portions of said stud.

5. As an article of manufacture, a spacing device for commutator leads, which consists of a stud adapted to pass through an opening in the lead, and spacing blocks of insulating material on said stud at opposite ends thereof.

6. In a dynamo-electric machine, an armature having a Winding, a commutator, commutator leads connecting the armature winding to the commutator segments, and insulating spacing devices supported by the leads and each fitting closely between adjacent leads and in contact therewith intermediate the ends of the latter, the spacing devices and the leads of themselves thereby forming a self-bracing structure.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD H. RALSTON.

Witnesses:

LAURENT LOWENBERG, FRED J. KINsEY. 

